There are various options on the market to protect the smartphone screen, whether it is with glass, plastic foil or a spray solution.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each product?
Which one is best suited to your needs?
plastic chips
According to Sebastian Kloss, a member of the German Association for Communications and Information Technology, plastic chips "are extremely thin and inexpensive, but provide little protection against scratches and minor damage."
Such thin chips can provide no greater protection than that, and many cannot withstand the scratches caused by a keychain.
But it is important to know that polyethylene flakes are stronger than polypropylene.
One of the disadvantages of plastic chips is that the user needs to change them regularly.
Because it quickly gets scratched.
Another disadvantage of plastic foil is that it is not grease repellent.
Plastic chips for smartphones are available in two versions;
Matte and glossy, the choice between them is a matter of taste and personal preference.
"In the case of glossy plastic chips, all the reflections that appear on the screen may appear on the screen, and sometimes even more reflections," explained Ulrike Kohlmann, from the German technology magazine "c't".
The German expert confirmed that the extinguished plastic chips prevent the appearance of reflections, but the screen appears less contrast, and if the user wishes to read texts under direct sunlight, it is better to rely on the extinguished protection chips, and when wanting to obtain a dense image, in this case it is possible to use Glossy plastic chips.
protective glass
Protective glass is more solid than plastic chips, and this protective layer usually consists of glass and chips. This type of protective glass is available for smart phone screens with different degrees of hardness, and the degrees of hardness are indicated by the value of H (H).
Coleman explained, "The highest level of hardness is up to 10H, which is the hardness of diamond."
The front protective glass of the smartphone screen is usually made of Gorilla Glass and has a hardness of 7H, and the hardness of sapphire glass is 9H, but the production of sapphire glass is very expensive.
In addition, the user should consider the thickness of the protective glass when purchasing, "Some modern smartphones include a fingerprint sensor under the screen, and if the protective glass is too thick, this sensor may not work sometimes," according to Coleman.
Protective glass is available at a much higher cost than plastic foil. "Of course there is a difference in price, but the protective glass is worth the cost because it provides better protection," Kloss explained.
Thanks to the great hardness of the protective glass, its advantages are not only effective protection from scratches, but also protect the screen to some extent against shocks and falls on the ground, in addition to the screen sensitivity is better.
"The tactile sensation of the smartphone is transmitted through the protective glass in a completely different way," the German expert added.
If the user wants to protect the smartphone effectively, it should not only protect the screen (Shutterstock)
protection fluids
There are liquids that are sprayed on the smartphone screen to provide protection against scratches once it dries.
Kloss explained that the first advantage of these liquids is the way they are placed on the screen;
It sprays easily and simply unlike installing plastic chips or protective glass, and there are no problems such as chip deflection or annoying bubbles appearing here.
Liquids that are sprayed on the screen of smartphones provide effective protection against scratches, and a limited degree of protection against falling on the ground, but if the scratches cause penetration of the protective layer or fall to the ground causes the front glass to crack, these defects cannot be repaired in the screen, on the reverse the use of protective glass;
Only scratches and cracks appear in the protective film, which can be easily replaced.
This applies to plastic chips as well, in addition to the fact that the protective layer by means of sprayable liquids must be renewed every 12 months.
degree of coverage
Besides thickness, hardness and materiality, the degree of coverage plays an important role when choosing the right protection chip for the smartphone screen.
"2D chips do not reach the edge of the smartphone, so 2.5D chips fit the curved edges, while 3D chips cover the entire screen and extend a little beyond the edges," Coleman explained.
And if the user wants to protect the smartphone effectively, it must not only protect the screen.
Coleman explained that, "If the smartphone is prone to falling on the ground a lot, it is better to protect it with a protective case."